Convert AUD to PGK Exchange Rate

You can buy Papua New Guinea Kina at any of the 90+ Travel Money Oz stores across Australia. Visit your nearest location in person to purchase PGK cash with same-day service available. Use our store locator to find your nearest Travel Money Oz and get your AUD to PGK sorted before your trip or work assignment to PNG.

The official Papua New Guinea currency is the Kina (PGK), named after a type of pearl shell traditionally used for trade. The currency symbol is "K" and you'll see it written as "PGK" internationally. You'll need Kina for everyday expenses like food, transport, accommodation, and shopping throughout Papua New Guinea. The Kina is subdivided into 100 toea, named after a valuable shell used in traditional trade.

"Kina" is named after a pearl shell (Pinctada maxima) that was traditionally used as currency and for ceremonial purposes throughout coastal Papua New Guinea. The name honors PNG's traditional trade systems where shells held significant value. Similarly, "toea" (the subdivision of kina) is named after another type of shell traditionally used for smaller transactions. This connection to traditional culture makes PNG's currency unique and culturally significant.

It's generally better to buy Papua New Guinea Kina in Australia before your trip. You can lock in the exchange rate and arrive in Port Moresby ready to pay for taxis, tips, and initial expenses. With Travel Money Oz's Price Beat Guarantee, you get competitive rates without airport markups. While you can exchange money at banks and hotels in Port Moresby, options are limited outside the capital, and rates vary. Having cash ready means you're prepared from arrival, especially important given PNG's cash-based economy.

Primarily CASH! Papua New Guinea is predominantly a cash-based economy. While some hotels, restaurants, and larger shops in Port Moresby accept cards, the vast majority of PNG operates on cash only. All PMVs (public motor vehicles/buses), local markets (betel nut vendors, fresh produce, crafts), street vendors, smaller guesthouses, rural areas, villages, and most businesses outside Port Moresby require Kina. ATMs exist in Port Moresby and some regional centers but are often unreliable (power outages, running out of cash, network issues) and non-existent in remote areas. Bring plenty of Kina cash for your entire trip.

Yes! If you've returned from Papua New Guinea with leftover Kina — whether from a holiday, business trip, completed work contract, or trek — bring it to any Travel Money Oz store and we'll convert it back to AUD. If you originally bought your Kina from us, you may qualify for our Buy Back Bonus for even better value. Just bring your original receipt. Given the balanced flow of travelers between Australia and PNG, buyback services are commonly used.